Clarke accepts role in Ponting axing

Michael Clarke has accepted part of the responsibility for the axing of Ricky Ponting from the Australian one-day squad in his role as a selector.

The captain became part of the national side’s selection panel following the Argus review in the wake of Australia’s Ashes loss last summer.

In a News Ltd column on Thursday, Clarke wrote of his sadness that Ponting would not be part of the one-day squad as it moves towards the 2015 World Cup.

But he wasn’t shirking his role in the decision when he fronted media at Bellerive ahead of Friday’s tri-series match against Sri Lanka.

“I’m 100 per cent part of the selection panel – that’s part now of the captain’s job, I guess, and we’ve made this decision as a panel,” Clarke said.

“It is tough not having the great Ricky Ponting out there this game playing one-day cricket for us but that’s the decision we’ve made.”

Clarke said Ponting remained a “huge part of our Test team”.

The skipper said he was confident he had overcome a hamstring injury in time for Friday’s match.

He said no decision had yet been made on Australia’s batting line-up with his return, no Ponting and the inclusion of Shane Watson.

Stay up to date with the latest sports news
Follow our social accounts to get exclusive content and all the latest sporting news!